What should you know about the Microplate Reader?

Are you interested to know about microplate readers? Congrats! You’re in the correct place. This post is dedicated to a brief discussion about a microplate reader.

A Brief Introduction to a Microplate Reader

Microplate readers are also known as microplate photometers. A microplate reader works by detecting light emission from samples placed on a microplate. Actually, the light emission causes due to the chemical, biological, physical, or biochemical reaction in such samples. Based on the same, varied modes for detection are defined.

However, intensity, absorbance, luminescence, and fluorescence are the most prominently used laboratories throughout the world. Nonetheless, various advanced modes, such as AlphaScreen®, fluorescence polarization, etc are available as well. You can contact an expert to resolve your all queries regarding microplate readers.

What is the work structure of a Microplate Reader

When it comes to a microplate reader, a detector is used to measure the light signal. Generally, a photomultiplier tube or PMT is used as the detector. The conversion of photons to electricity is the main work of PMTs. And then the microplate reader quantifies the electricity. The result is numbers that quantify the emitted light intensity.

The light-producing reaction can be of different natures. So, when it comes to the detection mode, particular wavelengths are needed for samples’ excitation. Basically, a broad band xenon flash lamp is used in this regard.

If the goal is to excite the samples by particular wavelengths, the lamp-produced light should be chosen by a particular excitation filter.

Do you want to increase specificity and sensitivity? Then, you should employ the filters equally on the specific emission or detection side. Moreover, filters are basically positioned in the middle of the detector and the sample.

If it’s luminescence detection, biochemical reactions will produce the light. However, there is no need for an excitation light in this case.

Why a Microplate Reader is used?

The main use of a microplate reader lies in the quantification of various chemical and biological analyses. Reagent kits, as well as Light-emitting dyes, are used while it comes to converting a reaction into light emission. Moreover, a plate reader is used for quantification.

Today, a lot of reagent kits are available in the market and that’s why the microplate reader is seen in various fields. Not only in pharmaceutical, biochemical, and biological researches- both in industrial as well as academic environments- plate readers are also evident in environmental research. Moreover, cosmetics and food industries also make use of a microplate reader.

Nonetheless, the microplate reader also works on alleviating time and investments so that researchers can focus on data analysis and actionable insights. Basically, the microplate reader can be of two types- Single-mode and multi-mode microplate reader. The classifications of a microplate reader are based upon the count and type of detection mode.

Another worth noting point is that multi-mode microplate readers can be featured with a maximum of seven detection modes. I hope you have got some insights into microplate readers and some of its associated aspects.